The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has urged the Georgian authorities to review their legislation. The corresponding appeal was published on the Council of Europe’s website. The document was adopted as part of the monitoring of the execution of the European Court’s judgment in the case of “Makarashvili and Others v. Georgia”.
The statement reads:
“Having reiterated the importance of ensuring that any interference with freedom of assembly complies with the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality, the Deputies noted with deep concern the legislative and law enforcement measures that have a chilling effect on the exercise of freedom of assembly.
The Deputies urged the authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of the relevant legislation and practice and bring them into line with Convention standards, in order to prevent disproportionate and unlawful administrative detentions and arrests, convictions, including criminal ones, and the imposition of excessive fines, as well as to ensure the overall fairness of judicial proceedings.
They also called on the Georgian authorities to engage in meaningful consultations with stakeholders and the expert bodies of the Council of Europe.”
